The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), acting in its capacity as the Designated Authority for implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in Nigeria, has ordered the closure of ShellPlux and TMDK Terminals, both located in the Ijegun-Egba area of Lagos.
This enforcement action follows the terminals’ prolonged non-compliance with the ISPS Code, despite multiple formal warnings. In line with global best practices, the move is pursuant to Section 79(f) of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations (2014), which mandates the closure of any facility that remains non-compliant for more than three calendar months.
Commenting on the development, NIMASA’s Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, reiterated the Agency’s commitment to ensuring maritime safety and security across Nigeria’s port infrastructure
“In wielding the big stick, we acted only as a last resort,” he stated. “Our primary objective is to enforce consistent safety and security standards across Nigerian ports and jetties. At a time when we are working closely with the United States Coast Guard to lift the conditions of entry imposed on vessels from Nigeria, we cannot afford lapses that jeopardise our progress.”
Mobereola noted that the terminals would be reopened once they meet all compliance requirements, acknowledging their significance to service delivery and trade facilitation.
He further highlighted the commitment of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to promoting sustainable trade within a secure and enabling maritime environment.
The ISPS Code — an amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) — was developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to bolster maritime and port facility security, especially for those engaged in international commerce.
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